One Sachet a Day for an Easy Meal Replacement
By Gloria Jones
Herbalife is one of those brands that most of us have heard of. Either because we’ve seen someone carrying one of their shaker cups or spotted a logo on the shirts of sports stars such as David Beckham, Lionel Messi or most notably Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo has in fact been an official Herbalife nutrition sponsor since 2013 and has even worked with them to create a sports drink: Herbalife24.
Founded in 1980 in Los Angeles the Herbalife company has now grown into a massive global business that sells nutrition and wellness products in more than 90 countries. Its focus is pretty simple: helping people manage weight, stay active, and live healthier lives through nutrition products and lifestyle coaching. What has made Herbalife really famous is its Formula 1 Nutritional Shake Mix (nothing to do with cars!). This is the company’s best selling product as the shake is designed as a meal replacement, so it’s supposed to give you the nutrients of a meal in a quick, convenient drink. For busy people who skip breakfast or grab unhealthy fast food during the day, the idea of blending up a shake in two minutes is pretty appealing.
I decided to give it a go after worrying that my intermittent fasting of one meal a day wasn’t giving me everything I needed – especially protein. So I decided to carry on having the shake even though I was going on holiday, by taking some sachets with me. Vanilla is my favourite, although you can also choose chocolate or strawberry. Easy to carry and easy to use,the powder can be mixed with water or milk. I use cold semi skimmed milk but you could also add it to a smoothie – home made or bought – as long as you make sure there’s no sugar or syrup added!
What I’ve found after using it for a couple of months is that these shakes suit me. I can drink them at my desk while still working and although I still skip breakfast, the shake is good for a late lunch substitute or when my morning caffeine buzz has worn off. Obviously if you already cater to all your dietary needs with all the requisite vitamins, fibre and protein you might find the idea of these shakes somewhat redundant. However, as a low calorie lunch (I reckon about 250 cals for me with the skimmed milk) it’s a good alternative for those of us not as diligent in our eating routines.
Of course, Herbalife isn’t without its controversy. On social media you’ll find criticism as well as enthusiastic success stories. Some absolutely love all the products and say they have helped them lose weight and stay consistent with healthy eating. Others are more skeptical and believe the company relies too heavily on recruitment and hype. When it comes to the Nutritional Shake Mix though experts generally take a balanced view saying that meal replacements can definitely be useful for people with busy schedules or specific calorie goals. That is as long as they don’t completely replace real food. So I believe that means just 1 meal replacement as part of a diet that includes vegetables,fruits and lean proteins should form the basis of a healthy routine..
What I have been less diligent about, apart from plenty of walking (well I was on holiday) is the need for regular exercise. Herbalife has built a strong image around fitness and active lifestyles. The company has sponsored athletes, like the aforementioned, and also soccer teams, and sporting events.This marketing strategy helps the brand position itself as more than just a weight-loss company but rather as part of an overall healthy lifestyle.Therefore the benefits of topping up your protein intake should be combined with some daily exercise of which I am conscious of not yet doing – but I will.
At the end of the day, Herbalife’s popularity comes down to simplicity and convenience. Like me, many people want easy ways to eat healthier and manage weight and a fast, customizable shake that fits into busy daily life does just that. Whether you see Herbalife as a helpful wellness brand or a controversial Muli-Level Marketing company is up to you. However, there’s no question that before other protein and supplement shakes came onto the market Herbal Life was already producing these types of products and some 46 years on it has become one of the most recognizable names in nutrition worldwide. So if you’d like to learn more or try these products for yourself just ask me by sending an email to [email protected].